Cuticle treatment device with integrated liquid dispensing

ABSTRACT

A cuticle treatment device with integrated liquid dispensing may facilitate simple and one-handed operation to perform a cuticle treatment with the application of a liquid to the cuticle.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to cosmetic treatments and,more particularly, to a cuticle treatment device with integrated liquiddispensing.

Description of the Related Art

In performing a cuticle treatment, such as during a manicure, on acuticle of a person, the cuticle is typically treated, such as with aliquid and by cutting or forced retraction of the cuticle using amechanical means, such as a blade or a member enabled to mechanicallyengage the cuticle. In typical methods of performing such cuticletreatments, the mechanical means was used separately from an applicatorof the liquid to the cuticle. Accordingly, typical cuticle treatmentdevices have included either the mechanical means to mechanically engagethe cuticle or a separate applicator for application of a cuticletreatment oil or lotion that helps cuticle to be softened.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a cuticle treatment device is disclosed. The cuticletreatment device may include a cuticle guide having an edge portionenabled to engage a cuticle of a person. In the cuticle treatmentdevice, the edge portion may include both a manicure tool enabled toengage at least a portion of the cuticle from a fingernail associatedwith the cuticle and a liquid dispenser enabled to apply a liquid to thecuticle. The cuticle treatment device may further include a liquidreceptacle in fluid communication with the liquid dispenser and enabledto store a volume of the liquid.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, themanicure tool may further include a hard material enabled to separatethe cuticle from the fingernail. In any of the disclosed embodiments ofthe cuticle treatment device, the hard material may be selected from atleast one of: a steel, a ceramic, and a metal.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, themanicure tool may be formed with a sharpened edge at the edge portion.In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, thesharpened edge may be formed into the hard material, and wherein thesharpened edge is enabled to cut the cuticle.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, theliquid may include at least one of a cuticle oil, an aqueous solution,and an alcoholic solution.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, theliquid receptacle may be removable. In any of the disclosed embodimentsof the cuticle treatment device, the liquid receptacle may be refillablewith the liquid.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, theliquid dispenser may be formed with an elastomeric material enabled todispense the liquid.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the cuticle treatment device, theelastomeric material may be selected from at least one of: a rubber, apolymer, and a composite material.

In another aspect, a method for treating cuticles using a cuticletreatment device is disclosed. The method may include placing thecuticle treatment device on a cuticle of a person. In the method, thecuticle treatment device may include a cuticle guide having an edgeportion, while the edge portion may further include a manicure toolenabled to engage the cuticle. The method may further include engagingthe cuticle separately from a fingernail associated with the cuticle byusing the cuticle treatment device, and applying a liquid to thecuticle. In the method, the cuticle treatment device may further includea liquid dispenser enabled to apply the liquid to the cuticle and aliquid receptacle in fluid communication with the liquid dispenser,wherein the liquid receptacle is enabled to store a volume of theliquid.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the manicure tool mayinclude a hard material enabled for the engaging the cuticle. In any ofthe disclosed embodiments of the method, the hard material may beselected from at least one of: a steel, a ceramic, and a metal.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the engaging thecuticle may further include separating at least a portion of the cuticlefrom the fingernail.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the engaging thecuticle may further include pushing back at least a portion of thecuticle towards the fingernail.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the engaging thecuticle may further include cutting at least a portion of the cuticlefrom the fingernail, wherein the manicure tool is formed with asharpened edge at the edge portion, the sharpened edge enabled for thecutting.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the liquid mayinclude at least one of a cuticle oil, an aqueous solution, and analcoholic solution.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further includeremoving the liquid receptacle from the cuticle treatment device. In anyof the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include refillingthe liquid receptacle with the liquid.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the liquid dispensermay be formed with an elastomeric material enabled to dispense theliquid. In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, theelastomeric material may be selected from at least one of: a rubber, apolymer, and a composite material.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the engaging andapplying steps may further include engaging the cuticle by a userholding the cuticle treatment device with one hand, and applying theliquid to the cuticle by the user holding the cuticle treatment devicewith one hand.

In any of the disclosed embodiments of the method, the user may be theperson.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a cuticle treatment device with integratedliquid dispensing;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of a cuticle treatment device with integratedliquid dispensing;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of cuticle treatment; and

FIG. 4 is a depiction of a cuticle treatment device with integratedliquid dispensing having a removable liquid receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT(S)

In the following description, details are set forth by way of example tofacilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that thedisclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possibleembodiments.

Throughout this disclosure, a hyphenated form of a reference numeralrefers to a specific instance of an element and the un-hyphenated formof the reference numeral refers to the element generically orcollectively. Thus, as an example (not shown in the drawings), device“12-1” refers to an instance of a device class, which may be referred tocollectively as devices “12” and any one of which may be referred togenerically as a device “12”. In the figures and the description, likenumerals are intended to represent like elements.

As noted above, typical cuticle treatment devices have been designed foruse by a manicurist on the person. However, the typical cuticletreatment devices may have not been enabled for use using one hand only,and may accordingly be unsuitable for use by persons desiring to performa self-manicure, such as by using one hand to perform the manicure onthe other hand. Accordingly, the use of typical cuticle treatmentdevices remains somewhat time-consuming and unwieldy and may typicallyinvolve the use of both hands to operate when application of the liquidis desired.

Thus, typical cuticle treatment devices have involved the use of bothhands of a user when the liquid is dispensed on the cuticle, and haveaccordingly been unsuitable for use by persons desiring to perform aself-manicure, such as by using one hand to perform the manicure on theother hand.

As will be disclosed in further detail herein, a cuticle treatmentdevice with integrated oil dispensing enables a person to perform acuticle treatment with fluid dispensing using one hand only. The cuticletreatment device with integrated oil dispensing disclosed hereincomprises a cuticle guide having an edge portion in which a manicuretool and a liquid dispenser is included. In the cuticle treatment devicewith integrated oil dispensing disclosed herein, the manicure tool maybe enabled to engage at least a portion of the cuticle from a fingernailassociated with the cuticle, while the liquid dispenser may be enabledto apply a liquid to the cuticle. The cuticle treatment device withintegrated oil dispensing disclosed herein may further comprise a liquidreceptacle that stores a volume of the liquid and is in fluidcommunication with the liquid dispenser. The manicure tool in thecuticle treatment device with integrated oil dispensing disclosed hereinmay include a hard material that is enabled to separate the cuticle fromthe fingernail, while the hard material may form a sharpened edge at theedge portion that is enabled to cut the cuticle. The cuticle treatmentdevice with integrated oil dispensing disclosed herein may be enabled todispense the fluid stored in the liquid receptable via the liquiddispenser that is integrated into the cuticle guide. The cuticletreatment device with integrated oil dispensing disclosed herein mayinclude a removable liquid receptacle that can be refilled with theliquid.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a cuticle treatment device100-1 with integrated liquid dispensing. In FIG. 1, cuticle treatmentdevice 100-1 is shown in an upright orientation and includes a cuticleguide 102, shown extending upwards from a liquid receptacle 104 thatforms a body of cuticle treatment device 100-1. As shown, cuticletreatment device 100-1 has a substantially cylindrical form and isdimensioned for grasping with the thumb and fingers of a hand for use,similar to a writing instrument. Cuticle guide 102 is shown extending asa hollow cylindrical portion that terminated in an angled oval surface,in a shape similar to an oval resulting from an intersection of anangled plane with a cylindrical tube.

In FIG. 1, an edge portion 102-1 is depicted and is shaped to engage acuticle of a person. Specifically, at edge portion 102-1, cuticle guide102 may operate as a manicuring tool that can engage or separate aportion of the cuticle, such as for separation from a fingernailassociated with the cuticle. For example, when cuticle guide 102 isformed from a hard material, such as a ceramic or a metal, edge portion102-1 may include a sharpened edge, such as at the angled oval surfaceat the tip of cuticle guide 102.

Additionally, edge portion 102-1 may comprise a liquid dispenser that isin fluid communication with liquid receptacle 104 (not visible in FIG.1, see also FIG. 2). For example, the liquid dispenser may comprise anelastomeric material that extends to liquid receptacle 104 and is influid communication with liquid receptacle 104. For example, the liquiddispenser may comprise a conduit or a channel that enables the flow ofthe liquid from liquid receptacle 104 to edge portion 102-1 forapplication at the cuticle. The elastomeric material may comprise atleast one of a rubber, a polymer, such as polypropylene, and a compositematerial, such as a filler-reinforced rubber. Although the liquiddispenser comprises the elastomeric material, a hardness or a stiffnessof the liquid dispenser may be sufficient to enable simultaneousengagement of the cuticle by the sharpened edge and the liquiddispenser, for example.

Furthermore, as noted, liquid receptacle 104 may be removable, such asby using a threaded connection with cuticle guide 102 to which liquidreceptacle 104 is attached in FIG. 2. By removing liquid receptacle 104,liquid receptacle 104 may be refilled with the liquid and thenreattached. It is noted that cuticle treatment device 100-1 may beenabled to store various different types of liquids that can be appliedto the cuticle, including aqueous solutions, alcoholic solutions, andoils, or various different combinations thereof. The liquids thatcuticle treatment device 100-1 is enabled to store and apply to thecuticle may have a range of viscosities. For example, the material usedfor the liquid dispenser may also be selected based on the type ofliquid that is used with cuticle treatment device 100-1. In someembodiments, different liquids may be mixed, such as a solvent and anoil, to produce a desired composition or a desired viscosity for theliquid used in cuticle treatment device 100-1.

In FIG. 2, a cuticle treatment device 100-2 with integrated liquiddispensing is shown. In FIG. 2, cuticle treatment device 100-2 is shownin a downward orientation that may correspond to an orientation that isused during the cuticle treatment, as explained previously. Also visiblein FIG. 2 is a channel 202 that may extend from liquid receptacle 104and edge portion 102-1 that may enable dispensing of the liquid.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flowchart of selected elements of anembodiment of method 300 for cuticle treatment is depicted. It is notedthat certain operations described in method 300 may be optional or maybe rearranged in different embodiments. Method 300 may be practiced by auser operating cuticle treatment device 100 with integrated liquiddispensing, as disclosed herein.

Method 300 may begin at step 302 by placing a cuticle treatment deviceon a cuticle of a person, where the cuticle treatment device comprises acuticle guide having an edge portion, and where the edge portion furthercomprises a manicure tool enabled to engage the cuticle. At step 304,the cuticle is separately engaged from a fingernail associated with thecuticle by using the cuticle treatment device. In some embodiments, step304 may include cutting at least a portion of the cuticle from thefingernail, where the manicure tool is formed with a sharpened edge atthe edge portion, the sharpened edge enabled for the cutting. At step306, a liquid is applied to the cuticle, where the cuticle treatmentdevice further comprises a liquid dispenser enabled to apply the liquidto the cuticle and a liquid receptacle in fluid communication with theliquid dispenser and enabled to store a volume of the liquid. It isnoted that at least steps 304 and 306 in method 300 may be performed bya user holding the cuticle treatment device using one hand.

In FIG. 4, cuticle treatment device 100-2 with integrated liquiddispensing is shown with liquid receptacle 104 removed. As shown in FIG.4, liquid receptacle 104 may be removed and opened to enable refillingwith the liquid (not shown), as described. It is noted that removal ofliquid receptacle 104 may involve separation of cuticle guide 102 fromliquid receptacle 104 as shown. In the exploded view of FIG. 4, channel202 is also visible. It is noted that in some embodiments, channel 202may include a material that can wick the liquid to deliver the liquidfor dispensing by cuticle guide 102, such as a fibrous or a porousmaterial, for example such as cotton fibers among other materials. Inone embodiment, the liquid dispenser may be configured to have anopening on its outer surface, where the opening is in fluidcommunication with channel 202. In this embodiment, the opening allowsdispensing of the liquid when the liquid dispenser is pressed on to aportion of a cuticle.

As disclosed herein, a cuticle treatment device with integrated liquiddispensing may facilitate simple and one-handed operation to perform acuticle treatment with the application of a liquid to the cuticle.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cuticle treatment device, comprising: a cuticleguide having an edge portion enabled to engage a cuticle of a person,wherein the edge portion further comprises both a manicure tool enabledto engage at least a portion of the cuticle from a fingernail associatedwith the cuticle and a liquid dispenser enabled to apply a liquid to thecuticle; and a liquid receptacle in fluid communication with the liquiddispenser and enabled to store a volume of the liquid.
 2. The cuticletreatment device of claim 1, wherein the manicure tool comprises a hardmaterial enabled to separate the cuticle from the fingernail.
 3. Thecuticle treatment device of claim 2, wherein the hard material isselected from at least one of: a steel, a ceramic, and a metal.
 4. Thecuticle treatment device of claim 2, wherein the manicure tool is formedwith a sharpened edge at the edge portion.
 5. The cuticle treatmentdevice of claim 4, wherein the sharpened edge is formed into the hardmaterial, and wherein the sharpened edge is enabled to cut the cuticle.6. The cuticle treatment device of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprisesat least one of: a cuticle oil, aqueous solution, and alcoholicsolution.
 7. The cuticle treatment device of claim 1, wherein the liquidreceptacle is removable.
 8. The cuticle treatment device of claim 1,wherein the liquid receptacle is refillable with the liquid.
 9. Thecuticle treatment device of claim 1, wherein the liquid dispenser isformed with an elastomeric material enabled to dispense the liquid. 10.The cuticle treatment device of claim 9, wherein the elastomericmaterial is selected from at least one of: a rubber, a polymer, and acomposite material.
 11. A method for treating cuticles, the methodcomprising: placing a cuticle treatment device on a cuticle of a person,wherein the cuticle treatment device comprises a cuticle guide having anedge portion, wherein the edge portion further comprises a manicure toolenabled to engage the cuticle; engaging the cuticle separately from afingernail associated with the cuticle by using the cuticle treatmentdevice; and applying a liquid to the cuticle, wherein the cuticletreatment device further comprises a liquid dispenser enabled to applythe liquid to the cuticle and a liquid receptacle in fluid communicationwith the liquid dispenser, wherein the liquid receptable is enabled tostore a volume of the liquid.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein themanicure tool comprises a hard material enabled for the engaging thecuticle.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hard material isselected from at least one of: a steel, a ceramic, and a metal.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the engaging the cuticle further comprises:separating at least a portion of the cuticle from the fingernail. 15.The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging the cuticle furthercomprises: pushing back at least a portion of the cuticle towards thefingernail.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging the cuticlefurther comprises: cutting at least a portion of the cuticle from thefingernail, wherein the manicure tool is formed with a sharpened edge atthe edge portion, the sharpened edge enabled for the cutting.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the liquid comprises at least one of : acuticle oil, aqueous solution, and alcoholic solution.
 18. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: removing the liquid receptacle from thecuticle treatment device.
 19. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: refilling the liquid receptacle with the liquid.
 20. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the liquid dispenser is formed with anelastomeric material enabled to dispense the liquid.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from at least oneof: a rubber, a polymer, and a composite material.
 22. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the engaging and applying steps further comprise:engaging the cuticle by a user holding the cuticle treatment device withone hand; and applying the liquid to the cuticle by the user holding thecuticle treatment device with one hand.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein the user is the person.